Saturday, September 21, 2013

Industrial Engineers "On the Job"

Overview

Industrial engineers design systems for producing goods. They try to use people and machines efficiently.Most engineers are concerned with creating structures such as bridges or nuclear power plants. In contrast, industrial engineers are concerned about the management of people and equipment. They attempt to design ways of creating goods that use these resources without much waste. For example, engineers try to set up assembly lines so that workers can rest briefly between items. If items move too quickly, workers may work too hard. If items move too slowly, workers may become bored rapidly. Similarly, engineers try to set up production so that machines are almost always in use.

Before they can design systems, industrial engineers must learn about the items being produced. They review the steps that products go through as they are being processed. Engineers learn about each task that workers perform and the machines they use. At existing factories, they also evaluate the current setup of equipment. Once they understand the process, engineers determine the best way to set it up. They use many tools and techniques to do this, including computers, drafting tools, and statistical software. Then, they write reports and create diagrams that show their setup recommendations. They may recommend changing the order in which materials are processed or how many steps different workers complete. They may also design new equipment. Many industrial engineers do mathematical calculations about how their changes will improve production.

Industrial engineers must also monitor the costs and savings of their changes. They also manage the results of their recommendations. They especially focus on the quality and reliability of products or projects. They regularly consult with vendors, managers, and employees to discuss changes and generate ideas. Any time something goes wrong, engineers step in to determine what happened and what needs to be done to fix it.

Some engineers specialize in improving the output from workers. They may suggest ways to encourage workers to work faster or with fewer errors. All engineers keep records of their ideas, designs, changes, budgets, and any problems.

Work Activities

The following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career.

Gather information about how products are made.

Design equipment, materials, and work space, using drafting tools and computers.

Develop the best methods to produce the product. Analyze labor and manufacturing costs and the setup of production equipment.

Analyze data and product designs to make sure the results will be of high quality and reliable.

Estimate the costs for entire projects and any changes.

Draw diagrams of how to lay out the production area.

Work with vendors, employees, and managers during all aspects of projects planning and production.

Run statistical analyses of how changes will improve the production process.

Recommend changes to improve how workers, materials, and resources are used.